Latest news with #ShangriLaDialogue
CNA
2 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
CNA Correspondent - Inside The Shangri-La Dialogue
23:27 Min CNA Correspondent Defence chiefs from around the world gathered in Singapore for the annual Shangri-La Dialogue. But with a lower-level Chinese delegation in attendance this year, how did that change the dynamics? CNA Correspondent About the show: They're your eyes and ears around the globe. CNA's network of correspondents shines a light on stories from their corners of the world, from groundbreaking events to up-and-coming trends.
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Deputy PM refuses to say if Chinese warships targeted Australian cities
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has refused to say if Chinese warships were 'targeting our cities' when they carried out exercises off Australia's vast coast earlier this year. The Australian Defence Force revealed in February it was tracking two People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) frigates and a replenishment vessel in the Coral Sea, off Queensland. They passed within 150 nautical miles (278km) east of Sydney as they moved south and conducted live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea without notifying Canberra or air traffic controllers. The Albanese government has kept tight-lipped on what the Chinese flotilla's mission was, even amid fears AUKUS could be on the rocks, Australia trailing its allies in defence spending and warnings Beijing poses an 'imminent' threat to the region. Mr Marles, who is also defence minister, on Monday told News Corp's Defending Australia Summit the Chinese live-fire drills was 'very much not diplomacy or defensive diplomacy'. 'None of that provides strategic reassurance,' he said. Asked point blank if they were rehearsing strikes on Australian cities or onshore facilities, Mr Marles said he did know but would not confirm or deny. 'Look, I do know the answer to the question,' he said. 'I don't think it's appropriate or helpful for me in this situation to speculate about it for a range of reasons … and the most significant being what we did with the Chinese task group was to engage in an unprecedented level of surveillance on that task group. 'So we do know exactly what they were doing and exactly what they're rehearsing. 'For me to start talking about that obviously reveals our surveillance capabilities, which is why I'm reluctant to.' Mr Marles added the Chinese ships were 'very clear about what they were doing'. 'Perhaps I would say that I think I don't think there are any capabilities that were put on display there which are particular surprise,' he said. 'And we were also, as I say – being able to surveil that task group in the manner which we did also sends an important statement.' 'Great power contest' The Trump administration has been calling on Canberra to dramatically boost military spending amid concerns China could make a move on the democratically self-governed island of Taiwan by 2027. Aside from torching the decades-long status quo, a Chinese move on Taiwan would deal a major blow to the global supply of semiconductors – crucial components in modern tech – and massively disrupt vital trade routes. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this month told Mr Marles that Australia's defence budget 'should' be 3.5 per cent of GDP 'as soon as possible' during a meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore. In a read out, the US Embassy said the two senior officials 'discussed aligning investment to the security environment in the Indo-Pacific, accelerating US force posture initiatives in Australia, advancing defence industrial base co-operation, and creating supply chain resilience'. Mr Hegseth also used his address at the conference to warn that Beijing posed an 'imminent' threat to the Indo-Pacific. 'Let me be clear, any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world,' Mr Hegseth said. 'There's no reason to sugar-coat it. The threat China poses is real and it could be imminent. 'We hope not but certainly could be.' While the Albanese government has pushed back on boosting the ADF's budget, Mr Marles acknowledged at the Defending Australia Summit that China's military build-up was the 'most significant … that we have seen since the end of the Second World War'. 'And it shapes the region in which we live, and it means that Australia's geography today is more relevant to great power contest than it has been at any point since the end of the Second World War, arguably at any point in our history,' he said. 'In terms of our own defence capability needs, our risk is not so much the invasion of the continent. 'We are fortunate that we are an island nation surrounded by oceans, but on the other hand, we are deeply reliant on our sea lines of communication. 'The supply of the country – almost all of our liquid fuels are imported by sea but also through export revenues.' Mr Marles said Australia getting cut off from the world was 'our strategic risk'. 'It's the disruption of those sea lines,' he said. 'It's the coercion that could result because of the disruption of such sea routes. 'It is that, and the stability of the region in which we live. 'Because the defence of Australia is intimately connected with the peace and stability of the Pacific, the peace and stability of Southeast Asia, of Northeast Asia, of the Northeast Indian Ocean.' Originally published as Deputy PM refuses to say if Chinese warships targeted Australian cities
Herald Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Herald Sun
Anthony Albanese murky on Taiwan defence
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Anthony Albanese says Australia will 'continue to play an important role in the Pacific' but has stopped short of committing to Taiwan's defence. The US earlier this month warned China was looking to move on the democratically self-governed island by 2027. Aside from torching the decades-long status quo, such a move would deal a major blow to global supply of semiconductors – crucial components in modern tech – and massively disrupt vital trade routes. The Prime Minister was on Monday (AEST) quizzed on how Australia would respond to an escalation in the Indo-Pacific ahead of his meeting with Donald Trump at the G7 summit in Canada this week. Mr Albanese said Australia was committed to 'peace and security in the region'. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia will 'play an important role in the Pacific' but has stopped short of committing to Taiwan's defence. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman 'That's what we want and Australia is a trusted partner to promote peace and security in our region,' he told reporters in Calgary. 'We have been so forever. If you look at the role that Australia has played, we'll continue to play an important role in the Pacific.' Mr Albanese pointed to his stop in Fiji as 'a reminder of the fact that Australia is a trusted partner in the Pacific'. 'What that does is to add to security in our region,' he said. 'That is our job. That is what we do and we all want to see that advanced.' The Trump administration has been calling on Canberra to hike defence spending in response to China – a call the Albanese government has firmly pushed back on. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this month warned Beijing posed an 'imminent' threat. 'Let me be clear, any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world,' Mr Hegseth told the Shangri La Dialogue. 'There's no reason to sugar-coat it. The threat China poses is real and it could be imminent. 'We hope not but certainly could be.' The US has warned China poses an 'imminent' threat to Taiwan. Picture: AFP / Sam Yeh He raised Australia's defence spending in a one-on-one with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on the sidelines of the conference, saying it 'should' be 3.5 per cent of GDP. In a read out, the US Embassy said the two senior officials 'discussed aligning investment to the security environment in the Indo-Pacific, accelerating US force posture initiatives in Australia, advancing defence industrial base co-operation, and creating supply chain resilience'. 'On defence spending, Secretary Hegseth conveyed that Australia should increase its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of its GDP as soon as possible,' the embassy said. Australia's closest allies, including the UK, have committed to dramatically ramping up defence to at least 3 per cent, making the Albanese government a clear outlier. Mr Marles, who also serves as defence minister, again pushed back against Washington's request on Monday. He insisted Australia has been 'spending more on defence' under Labor. Chinese warships regularly violate Taiwan's maritime borders. Taiwan Defence Ministry / Handout 'We have engaged in the last couple of years in the biggest peacetime increase in defence spending in Australia's history,' Mr Marles told the ABC. 'And that has been a function of the very complex strategic landscape that we face. 'In many ways, the threatening strategic landscape that we face.' He repeated Mr Albanese's lines that Labor would 'assess our strategic landscape, what are our needs, what's our national interest and then resource it'. 'I mean what we inherited obviously was a defence establishment which wasn't in great shape from the Coalition,' Mr Marles said. 'What we've given to it is strategic clarity. 'We have reprioritised tens of billions of dollars of expenditure but what we've also done is increased spending on defence in order to resource our needs, and we'll continue the process of assessing that and where there is a need resourcing it.' Labor has committed tens of billions more to defence since coming to power, but much of the funds are tied up in long-term projects, such as AUKUS. China has built the world's largest combat-ready military under President Xi Jinping. Picture: AFP The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) report warned late last month Australia must boost its immediate readiness to go to war or risk having a 'paper ADF'. ASPI said that while Labor was spending on longer-term projects it was not pumping nearly enough cash into keeping Australia combat-ready in the near term. The report, authored by former Home Affairs deputy secretary Marc Ablong, called for 'defence funding to be increased to reflect the reality of the threats facing Australia'. It said that while the Albanese government 'claims to have made a 'generational investment in Australia's defence', that investment has been put off for another generation', pointing out that the bulk of the billions pledged by Labor would not kick in until after 2029. Originally published as PM murky on Taiwan defence, says Australia committed to 'peace and security' in the Pacific
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Albo keeps mum on big China question
Anthony Albanese says Australia will 'continue to play an important role in the Pacific' but has stopped short of committing to Taiwan's defence. The US earlier this month warned China was looking to move on the democratically self-governed island by 2027. Aside from torching the decades-long status quo, such a move would deal a major blow to global supply of semiconductors – crucial components in modern tech – and massively disrupt vital trade routes. The Prime Minister was on Monday (AEST) quizzed on how Australia would respond to an escalation in the Indo-Pacific ahead of his meeting with Donald Trump at the G7 summit in Canada this week. Mr Albanese said Australia was committed to 'peace and security in the region'. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia will 'play an important role in the Pacific' but has stopped short of committing to Taiwan's defence. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'That's what we want and Australia is a trusted partner to promote peace and security in our region,' he told reporters in Calgary. 'We have been so forever. If you look at the role that Australia has played, we'll continue to play an important role in the Pacific.' Mr Albanese pointed to his stop in Fiji as 'a reminder of the fact that Australia is a trusted partner in the Pacific'. 'What that does is to add to security in our region,' he said. 'That is our job. That is what we do and we all want to see that advanced.' The Trump administration has been calling on Canberra to hike defence spending in response to China – a call the Albanese government has firmly pushed back on. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier this month warned Beijing posed an 'imminent' threat. 'Let me be clear, any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world,' Mr Hegseth told the Shangri La Dialogue. 'There's no reason to sugar-coat it. The threat China poses is real and it could be imminent. 'We hope not but certainly could be.' He raised Australia's defence spending in a one-on-one with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on the sidelines of the conference, saying it 'should' be 3.5 per cent of GDP. In a read out, the US Embassy said the two senior officials 'discussed aligning investment to the security environment in the Indo-Pacific, accelerating US force posture initiatives in Australia, advancing defence industrial base co-operation, and creating supply chain resilience'. 'On defence spending, Secretary Hegseth conveyed that Australia should increase its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of its GDP as soon as possible,' the embassy said. Australia's closest allies, including the UK, have committed to dramatically ramping up defence to at least 3 per cent, making the Albanese government a clear outlier. Mr Marles, who also serves as defence minister, again pushed back against Washington's request on Monday. He insisted Australia has been 'spending more on defence' under Labor. 'We have engaged in the last couple of years in the biggest peacetime increase in defence spending in Australia's history,' Mr Marles told the ABC. 'And that has been a function of the very complex strategic landscape that we face. 'In many ways, the threatening strategic landscape that we face.' He repeated Mr Albanese's lines that Labor would 'assess our strategic landscape, what are our needs, what's our national interest and then resource it'. 'I mean what we inherited obviously was a defence establishment which wasn't in great shape from the Coalition,' Mr Marles said. 'What we've given to it is strategic clarity. 'We have reprioritised tens of billions of dollars of expenditure but what we've also done is increased spending on defence in order to resource our needs, and we'll continue the process of assessing that and where there is a need resourcing it.' Labor has committed tens of billions more to defence since coming to power, but much of the funds are tied up in long-term projects, such as AUKUS. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) report warned late last month Australia must boost its immediate readiness to go to war or risk having a 'paper ADF'. ASPI said that while Labor was spending on longer-term projects it was not pumping nearly enough cash into keeping Australia combat-ready in the near term. The report, authored by former Home Affairs deputy secretary Marc Ablong, called for 'defence funding to be increased to reflect the reality of the threats facing Australia'. It said that while the Albanese government 'claims to have made a 'generational investment in Australia's defence', that investment has been put off for another generation', pointing out that the bulk of the billions pledged by Labor would not kick in until after 2029.
West Australian
6 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Foreign Minister defends military spending amid ‘imminent' China threat
Australia's chief diplomat has defended Labor's hesitancy to join allies in ramping up defence spending, saying the Albanese government 'will fund what is required' despite warnings of an 'imminent' threat from China. The Trump administration earlier this month called on Australia to hike the military budget to 3.5 per cent of GDP, after years of flatlining near 2 per cent. Anthony Albanese and his ministers have pushed back, insisting Australia was pulling its weight on defence and that spending was a matter for Canberra, not Washington. But many of Australia's closest allies have committed to spending more on defence amid conflicts on multiple continents and an increasingly inward-looking US, making the Albanese government somewhat of an outlier. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Sunday the Prime Minister's position was 'very clear'. 'We assess capability requirements and we make sure that they are funded appropriately,' Senator Wong told the ABC. She was pressed on why the Albanese government took a different view to the likes of the UK, Germany and France, all of which have committed to spending at least 3 per cent of GDP on defence. 'Because we will fund what is required,' Senator Wong said, repeating that the Australian Defence Force would be funded 'by assessing capability and ensuring that we provide for the capability that is required'. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth raised Australia's defence budget with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on the sidelines of the Shangri La Dialogue. Mr Hegseth used his speech at the security conference to warn that China could invade the democratically self-governing island of Taiwan as early as 2027. Such a move would deal a major blow to global supply of semiconductors – crucial components in modern tech – and massively disrupt vital trade routes. 'Let me be clear, any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world,' Mr Hegseth said. 'There's no reason to sugar-coat it. The threat China poses is real and it could be imminent. 'We hope not but certainly could be.' In her Sunday comments, Senator Wong reiterated Australia's bipartisan 'support (for) the status quo' on Taiwan. 'We oppose any unilateral changes to the status quo and we urge these matters to be dealt with peacefully,' she said. 'China … has been exerting its influence, exerting its power in order to progress its interests in our region. That is very clear. 'I have spoken about that for many years. At times those interests will be different to Australia's. We understand that, which is why we do many things. 'We engage bilaterally, but we also engage with partners including the United States because what Australia wants is a region where no country dominates and no country is dominated. 'That requires strategic balance, it requires engagement of the US, and it requires all countries of the region to play their part.'
